Ambassador Wolfgang Waldner and his wife travelled to Richmond, VA on Friday, July 1 to meet Governor Terry McAuliffe and to visit the Austrian community in the region.

Governor McAuliffe and Ambassador Waldner discussed trade relations between the Commonwealth of Virginia and Austria and the mutual wish to intensify these relations through visits and personal contacts. With imports amounting to over 600 Million US-Dollars annually, Austria is among the largest ten import partners of the Commonwealth. At the same time, Virginia has so far received over 30 Million US-Dollars in FDI from Austria, resulting in a place among the 20 most important economic partner countries. Around 15 Austrian businesses currently operate subsidiaries in the Commonwealth, f.i. GFM, Dibit, Schiebel, IBS, Kapsch, Neuman Aluminium, Anton Paar, Bohler-Uddeholm, Plasser, Franz Haas and ILF.

Ambassador Waldner met with representatives of the Styrian company Anton Paar in Ashland, VA , enjoyed a tour of the company’s facilities and addressed the assembled employees.

During his visit to Richmond, Ambassador Waldner also visited the Virginia Holocaust Museum and with its representatives including Mr. Anvesh Nookala who currently serves as Austrian Gedenkdiener in the framework of the Austrian Holocaust Memorial Service. 

The trip was concluded by a reception for members of the Austrian community and Friends of Austria at the residence of Austrian Honorary Consul Bernhard Barta who had organized the Ambassador’s visit.